Martin Luther a Saint or a Sinner ?
By Quinn Hutchins
Reason why Luther should be a Saint
His interest was for the people not his own self glory .
Martin Luther should be a Saint because his main reason for starting this important reformation was not because he wanted to become well known, it was because he was concerned about how the church was treating its devoted followers. Martin Luther believed the church was taking it followers for granted and not actually appreciating them. Luther thought this way because the church was selling people pieces of paper called Indulgences which were pieces of paper that was signed by a pope or a bishop that gave forgiveness to people. He disagreed strongly with this idea and thought it was a way the church could make money off its followers. Martin Luther should be a Saint because his care for the people lead to the Reformation.
He showed displease with the church.
Martin Luther expressed his displease with the church in a single organized document called the 95 theses. This document expressed how the church was doing many corrupt and unholy things to the people and other religions. Luther wrote the 95 thesis to tell the people and other religions what the Catholic Church was doing, and how wrong it was. This makes Luther a Saint because he was brave to criticize the church.
Luther would stop at nothing for his cause.
I believe Martin Luther was a Saint because he would not stop his beliefs, even if death was knocking on his doorstep. When Martin Luther was at the Diet of Worms, Luther's trial against the Catholic Church for being a heretic. During the trial one of the popes men asked Luther if he repents what he said about the church and its leadership, and if he does his sins will be forgiven. Luther did not repent his sayings and literature because he says they tell the truth. The church then sentences Luther to death and they also condemn his soul to hell. Even though Luther does not die, he is still Saint worthy because he was ready to die for his beliefs.
Reasons why Luther is a Sinner
Luther started many conflicts for with his actions.
Martin Luther should be considered a Sinner for the Protestant Reformation. I believe he should be seen as a sinner because Luther's reformation lead to many conflicts between Catholics and people who adopted Lutherism as their new religion. These conflicts lead to the death of many innocent Christians. The biggest conflict Luther created was the Sack of Rome in 1527. This lead to the death of Christians and the destruction many holy sites. Luther should be considered a Sinner because he was the influence that caused many people to do destructive acts and kill.
He criticized the Pope and his authority.
Martin Luther should also be considered a sinner because he said many disparaging things about the pope. I believe he is a sinner because Luther criticized Pope Clement who is the holiest person on Earth. He said that Pope Clement was deceiving his followers, and said he was only using them to gain money for the Church. Luther also disagreed about the pope having authority over everyone in the holy world.
Martin Luther was very antisemitic
Martin Luther had a very antisemitic point of view, for this reason I believe he should be considered a sinner. Luther had heavy influence on German antisemitism during this time and even into the 20th century when Adolf Hitler took power in Germany. Hitler made many references to Martin Luther and his text. Martin Luther's text could influenced Hitler to start the Holocaust one of the most tragic events the world has seen yet. If Martin Luther was not as antisemitic some of the tragic events may not have occurred in History. For this reason I believe Luther is a Sinner.
So was Martin Luther a Sinner or a Saint ?
After my research I have come to the undeniable conclusion Martin Luther was a Sinner. I believe Luther's sins outweighed the good things he tried to do for the Catholic Church. Luther's reformation only separated the Catholic Church even more than it already was. His reforms didn't bring any change to the church it just caused conflict among its followers and believers. Luther's reformation also called for persecution for Jew's and non-believers of this new faith. I've came to the conclusion of Martin Luther being a Sinner because his Sins heavily outweighed his Saintliness.
Citations
Religion Caring. Digital image. Getty Images. Tamara Murray, n.d. Web. 22
Dec. 2015.
95 Theses Poster. Digital image. Against the Wind. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Dec.
2015.
Quortbawi, Shakib. Digital image. Amnesty Usa. N.p., 26 Mar. 2014.
Web. 22 Dec. 2015.
Sack of Rome. Digital image. Florida Frontier. N.p., n.d. Web. 22
Pope Clement VII. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Dec. 2015.
Antisemitism. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Dec. 2015.